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Students in the Neurobiology Curriculum receive multidisciplinary training in mechanisms underlying nervous system development, function, and regulation. Neurobiology is studied at multiple levels ranging from single molecules, molecular interactions, intracellular pathways, cell-cell interactions, organ physiology, and systems integration. Students in this program utilize a variety of experimental approaches to their investigations, including biochemical, immunological, molecular, biophysical, electrophysiological, mathematical, and morphological methods. The program provides opportunities for students to develop firm foundations for scientific careers in neuroscience.
In addition to the integrated approach of the IGP, Northwestern University offers a specialized PhD program in neuroscience. This program, the Northwestern University Institute for Neuroscience (NUIN), utilizes faculty from both the Evanston and Chicago (Medical School) campuses. Several of the IGP faculty listed below also serve as NUIN faculty. For more information, visit the Northwestern University Institute for Neuroscience website.
Program of Study
The IGP core courses introduce the student to fundamental concepts and approaches in biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology and genetics. There are a number of neurobiology-related courses available both through IGP courses and courses offered by the Northwestern University Institute for Neuroscience (NUIN). Neurobiology students also participate in journal clubs and seminar series, such as the Lectures in Life Sciences, Drug Discovery Program lecture series, Alzheimer’s disease seminar series, Cognitive Neurology seminar series, Molecular Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry seminar series, NUIN lecture series, and Neurobiology and Physiology seminar series.
Major research themes strive to explain:
- Mechanisms of neurogenesis, neural development, and synaptic transmission
- Systems neuroscience and the physiological basis of complex behaviors
- Pharmacology of receptor-mediated signal transduction
- Molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders
Experimental methodologies include biochemical and electrophysiological techniques using in vivo and in vitro preparations, behavioral techniques for controlling adaptive mechanisms in intact animal preparations, on-line computer control of experiments and on-line acquisition and analysis of a variety of physiological data, digital image processing techniques including confocal microscopy, and mathematical modeling and simulation of physiological systems.
Neurobiology Courses
| Neurobiology courses: |
Courses offered by the Northwestern University Institute for Neuroscience cover a wide variety of relevant neurobiology topics, and are available for IGP students. Click here for more information. |
| Electives: |
Appropriate IGP electives include, but are not limited to, Molecular Basis of Drug Action, Advanced Topics in Drug Discovery, Macromolecular Structure and Function, Receptors and Effectors, and Structural Basis of Signal Transduction. |
Click here to see Neurobiology Faculty and Research Interests
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